And this water that causeth the curse shall go into thy bowels, to make thy belly to swell, and thy thigh to rot: And the woman shall say, Amen, amen.
And this water that brings the curse will go into your body, making your stomach swell and your thigh waste away. And the woman must say, 'Amen, amen.'
This verse describes part of an ancient ritual where a woman suspected of adultery would drink special water and accept the consequences, saying 'Amen' to agree to the test.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Numbers, which records events during the Israelites' wilderness journey after the Exodus from Egypt, this verse is part of a ritual outlined in God's law to Moses for dealing with suspicions of adultery in marriage. When a husband accused his wife without witnesses, the priest would prepare a special bitter water mixed with dust and ink from a written curse, which the woman would drink to determine her guilt or innocence through divine intervention. This practice reflected the ancient Israelite emphasis on God's holiness, justice, and the protection of family integrity in a society where such matters were handled through religious and communal means.
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